As the main 10am ANZAC Day service finished in Jindabyne last Friday, organisers expressed surprise and delight at the number of people and especially families and young children, who turned out to commemorate the soldiers from WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Middle East conflicts.

Conservative estimates put the numbers at the 10am service at over 700 with some people suggesting that there could have been up to 1,000 present.

The big surprise, however, was the dawn service, at which, well over 250 people trod a frosty Banjo Paterson Park to gather before the first light of dawn.

Just five years ago there had been only a handful of people at this service.

Jim Crocker from the Snowy River sub branch of the RSL and one of the long-term organisers said that ANZAC Day falling before a weekend and during the school holidays, may have contributed to increased numbers but didn't think that it was the whole story.

Fellow organiser RSL sub-branch member, Bruce Burton, put much of the recent increase in attendance down to education at schools.

"I think there is a growth in patriotism through the education system," he said.

Mr Crocker, who several days before the school holidays, was part of the local schools' ANZAC services, said: "We want to foster the interest with the kids."

Mr Burton also said that having Australian's involved in conflicts overseas, had a great influence on people's perception of ANZAC Day.